Initiating new technologies into complex institutions can be a challenge, especially when hundreds of users with varying technical skills, disciplinary approaches, and time commitments are involved. Integrating new technologies into teaching and pedagogical practices within widely disparate experience groups only increases that challenge.

Creativity, innovation – and skill – can grow organically with “passionate users” who communicate effectively from the earliest stages of introducing a new system. Kathy Sierra’s blog post Building a User Community has some interesting and translatable insights for successfully creating cultures of knowledge for new technology and teaching. Early engagement and continued leaner participation have large payoffs in building a sustained, innovative environment. Give it a read.